After falling behind 9-0. But then, the Yankees scored 15 unanswered runs. So they won the game 15-9 at Fenway Park.
Also, the Yankees are in first place:
"What we really saw Saturday at Fenway after the Red Sox were ahead 9-0, what we saw and kept seeing as Bobby Valentine brought one scrub after another out of his bullpen into this train wreck of a game, was just more of the fall that we thought ended with the last game of last season for the Boston Red Sox."
Sunday, April 22, 2012
It was a check swing.
"Facing a thick wall of reporters at his locker, Ryan said he would have no comment on the final pitch and then praised Humber for his performance, talking about his great slider and 'A-plus-plus stuff.' When this was met with a brief silence, Ryan said, 'Everyone wants to talk about the checked swing, huh?'
Well, since you brought it up ...
'The closer they get, the more borderline things may go (the pitcher's way),' Ryan said. 'Because that's just the way things go. I just wanted to be more aggressive.'
When someone mentioned that Humber's reaction to the pitch looked as if he thought he had just thrown ball four, Ryan said, 'It was, it was.' He paused and quickly added, 'Hmm, I don't want to finish that.'
'When you're in that situation, you have to be a little more aggressive to anything around the plate,' Ryan continued. 'I mean, that's just the way it has to be. The fans want to see it. So anything that's kind of gray, you have to at least get a piece of.' "
It is interesting how many people see what they want to see.
"It was the right call, given the situation," or some such reaction.
Alright, alright, I give up. But just don't tell me that guy swung at that pitch. I watch enough baseball to know better.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Nunez struggles on defense.
"Eduardo Nunez got his first start at second base last night to spell Robinson Cano, who was getting a break from playing the field as the designated hitert."
Hitter.
"And promptly, Nunez did what he's done at third base and shortstop this season: botch a routine play."
Consistency is important.
" ...This is not a guy that doing this for 10 years and has been a utility guy, this is a guy that was an everyday shortstop, has to be a utility guy and play a roll for us."
Role.
Man, this editor is the Eduardo Nunez of editors.
Hitter.
"And promptly, Nunez did what he's done at third base and shortstop this season: botch a routine play."
Consistency is important.
" ...This is not a guy that doing this for 10 years and has been a utility guy, this is a guy that was an everyday shortstop, has to be a utility guy and play a roll for us."
Role.
Man, this editor is the Eduardo Nunez of editors.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The good, the bad, and the ugly: Bobby Valentine edition.
Bobby Valentine is a genius for criticizing Kevin Youkilis:
"They've only been playing pro ball in Boston for 112 years (wedged into this very triangle for the past 100), and the likes of Bobby V don't come along very often. He's like a locust cloud, a glorious comet … hurtling toward earth.
There's a genius to what Bobby V does, an intellectual plane on which few of us get to hold a barbecue, and frankly it takes some getting used to."
Bobby Valentine is a mad man for criticizing Kevin Youkilis:
"This is what Valentine does. He is always doing something to draw attention to himself. This is rarely a good idea and never, never, never a good one in Boston. The criticism is going to come anyway, and it did Monday when Valentine failed to pull his wilting starter in a timely fashion, leading to a loss and lusty boos from fans. So why invite it in early?"
Bobby Valentine in a Japanese pop music video.
"They've only been playing pro ball in Boston for 112 years (wedged into this very triangle for the past 100), and the likes of Bobby V don't come along very often. He's like a locust cloud, a glorious comet … hurtling toward earth.
There's a genius to what Bobby V does, an intellectual plane on which few of us get to hold a barbecue, and frankly it takes some getting used to."
Bobby Valentine is a mad man for criticizing Kevin Youkilis:
"This is what Valentine does. He is always doing something to draw attention to himself. This is rarely a good idea and never, never, never a good one in Boston. The criticism is going to come anyway, and it did Monday when Valentine failed to pull his wilting starter in a timely fashion, leading to a loss and lusty boos from fans. So why invite it in early?"
Bobby Valentine in a Japanese pop music video.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Roger Clemens trial still going on.
A grey tie with a grey suit?
He's guilty of something, girlfriend. Triple snap in z formation.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
This Day in History.
One hundred years after the sinking of the Titanic, please take a moment of silence to ponder the parallel tragedy of the career of Phil Hughes.
Answering rhetorical questions.
"If the Yankees are actually sincere about getting their payroll to $189 million eventually — that means actually having a real 'budget' — how in the world do they keep Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher and pay Robinson Cano a fortune when it’s his turn at bat?"
Pay Cano, pay Granderson, dump Swisher, or spend more than $189 million.
The reason I said that is because Cano is better than Granderson and Granderson is better than Swisher.
That was super-easy.
What is the next question?
"Whatever happened to Kei Igawa?"
Mo Vaughn and Bobby Bonilla own a chain of lunch trucks that they lease to New York free agent busts.
Igawa is currently splitting shifts with Oliver Perez at a lunch truck up in Hunts Point.
Their full-time dishwasher is Shawn Estes.
Pay Cano, pay Granderson, dump Swisher, or spend more than $189 million.
The reason I said that is because Cano is better than Granderson and Granderson is better than Swisher.
That was super-easy.
What is the next question?
"Whatever happened to Kei Igawa?"
Mo Vaughn and Bobby Bonilla own a chain of lunch trucks that they lease to New York free agent busts.
Igawa is currently splitting shifts with Oliver Perez at a lunch truck up in Hunts Point.
Their full-time dishwasher is Shawn Estes.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Grading on a curve.
"He was the first to hit a home run in the new Yankee Stadium the day it opened, but you know his best days and nights were across the street, when Posada was behind the plate for some of the best Yankee teams you will ever see in this world, when he began playing himself to Cooperstown."
Behind the plate, behind the plate.
Let's talk about what it actually means to be behind the plate.
In 1996, Posada had zero playoff at-bats. (You recall Girardi's triple in the World Series, of course.)
In 1997, Posada played 60 games behind the plate. Two postseason at-bats.
In 1998, Posada played 99 games behind the plate. Split time with Girardi in the regular season and the playoffs.
In 1999, Posada played 109 games behind the plate. Split time with Giradi in the regular season and the playoffs.
I always thought that Posada's lack of playing time was a foolish decision by an ex-catcher/manager who was over-valuing Girardi's defensive contributions.
But my opinion doesn't change the following facts:
(1) Posada was not really The Man behind the plate for the Yankees until the 2000 season.
(2) When Lupica is talking about the "best Yankee teams you will ever see in this world," he is not talking about the teams from 2000 forward. In fact, in case you hadn't noticed, Lupica will remind his readers from time to time that the Yankees have won "only" one World Series since 2000.
" 'This is my opinion,' an old catcher named Mike Scioscia said on the field before the game, 'but any conversation you have about the great catchers, Jorge Posada has to be a part of it.' And when it was pointed out to Scioscia that some people see Posada as a borderline Hall of Fame candidate, Scioscia shook his head and said, People who say that about him don't know what they're talking about. He’s a slam-dunk candidate as far as I'm concerned.' "
I will submit an alternate proposal: Mike Scioscia doesn't know what he is talking about.
Posada was great at two things: Walking and hitting homeruns. Which are quite important. A .374 career on-base% and a .474 career slugging% are excellent, especially for catchers.
Nothing else in his game separates him from the pack.
If Posada is a slam-dunk, then you simply have too many slam-dunks.
"Posada, 40 now, came along with Rivera and Jeter and Pettitte, and the Yankees became the Yankees again, and Posada joined a line of great Yankee catchers that started with Bill Dickey, a line that had Yogi in it and Elston Howard and Thurman Munson."
Agreed, but Posada wasn't as good as any of them. (To be fair, Posada was probably better than Howard, but Posada was not as good as the others.)
Posada is not even close to Berra and Dickey, who are in the HOF.
Munson is not in the HOF.
Munson won a rookie of the year, MVP, three Gold Gloves, .357 postseason batting average, .373 World Series batting average, 114 homeruns when Death Valley was 430 feet, and ... I say this with much emphasis ... Thurman Munson would have never been benched in the playoffs for the likes of Joe Girardi.
If Posada is a slam-dunk, what the heck is Munson? What the heck are Benito Santiago and Javy Lopez, for that matter?
"When the Yankees were losing another first-round series to the Tigers in October, losing the fourth first-round series since 2005, Jorge Posada still had enough talent and pride to hit .429, get six hits and look like the toughest out in the batting order once the Tigers had pitched past Robinson Cano."
See?
I told you that Lupica would instantly contradict himself.
Posada was the catcher (DH in 2011) for some of the best Yankee teams you'll ever see in this world ... the kind of Yankee teams that deserve ridicule for losing four first-round playoff series since 2005.
Behind the plate, behind the plate.
Let's talk about what it actually means to be behind the plate.
In 1996, Posada had zero playoff at-bats. (You recall Girardi's triple in the World Series, of course.)
In 1997, Posada played 60 games behind the plate. Two postseason at-bats.
In 1998, Posada played 99 games behind the plate. Split time with Girardi in the regular season and the playoffs.
In 1999, Posada played 109 games behind the plate. Split time with Giradi in the regular season and the playoffs.
I always thought that Posada's lack of playing time was a foolish decision by an ex-catcher/manager who was over-valuing Girardi's defensive contributions.
But my opinion doesn't change the following facts:
(1) Posada was not really The Man behind the plate for the Yankees until the 2000 season.
(2) When Lupica is talking about the "best Yankee teams you will ever see in this world," he is not talking about the teams from 2000 forward. In fact, in case you hadn't noticed, Lupica will remind his readers from time to time that the Yankees have won "only" one World Series since 2000.
" 'This is my opinion,' an old catcher named Mike Scioscia said on the field before the game, 'but any conversation you have about the great catchers, Jorge Posada has to be a part of it.' And when it was pointed out to Scioscia that some people see Posada as a borderline Hall of Fame candidate, Scioscia shook his head and said, People who say that about him don't know what they're talking about. He’s a slam-dunk candidate as far as I'm concerned.' "
I will submit an alternate proposal: Mike Scioscia doesn't know what he is talking about.
Posada was great at two things: Walking and hitting homeruns. Which are quite important. A .374 career on-base% and a .474 career slugging% are excellent, especially for catchers.
Nothing else in his game separates him from the pack.
If Posada is a slam-dunk, then you simply have too many slam-dunks.
"Posada, 40 now, came along with Rivera and Jeter and Pettitte, and the Yankees became the Yankees again, and Posada joined a line of great Yankee catchers that started with Bill Dickey, a line that had Yogi in it and Elston Howard and Thurman Munson."
Agreed, but Posada wasn't as good as any of them. (To be fair, Posada was probably better than Howard, but Posada was not as good as the others.)
Posada is not even close to Berra and Dickey, who are in the HOF.
Munson is not in the HOF.
Munson won a rookie of the year, MVP, three Gold Gloves, .357 postseason batting average, .373 World Series batting average, 114 homeruns when Death Valley was 430 feet, and ... I say this with much emphasis ... Thurman Munson would have never been benched in the playoffs for the likes of Joe Girardi.
If Posada is a slam-dunk, what the heck is Munson? What the heck are Benito Santiago and Javy Lopez, for that matter?
"When the Yankees were losing another first-round series to the Tigers in October, losing the fourth first-round series since 2005, Jorge Posada still had enough talent and pride to hit .429, get six hits and look like the toughest out in the batting order once the Tigers had pitched past Robinson Cano."
See?
I told you that Lupica would instantly contradict himself.
Posada was the catcher (DH in 2011) for some of the best Yankee teams you'll ever see in this world ... the kind of Yankee teams that deserve ridicule for losing four first-round playoff series since 2005.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Promotion.
"Girardi switched Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels, putting the struggling Rodriguez in the third spot while Cano will assume the cleanup duties against Ervin Santana.
Rodriguez has hit fourth in all six games this season, but has struggled mightily in the cleanup role. Rodriguez has zero home runs, zero RBI and is hitting .174 in 29 plate appearances."
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Is this extended April Fool's Day?
"Atlanta Brave Chipper Jones will be honored by the New York Mets in September as the veteran 3rd baseman retires from baseball, WFAN's Craig Carton revealed on the Boomer & Carton show today.
Chipper has hit 48 HRs, 154 RBI, and has a career .318 batting average against the Mets so it makes perfect sense to honor the guy... "
Chipper has hit 48 HRs, 154 RBI, and has a career .318 batting average against the Mets so it makes perfect sense to honor the guy... "
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Item!
This sounds like a good idea:
"Alex Rodriguez has been contacted about playing a drag queen in an upcoming indie movie about Salvador Dali. The New York Post reports that the film's brass believes Rodriguez would be perfect in the role of Dali's 'factotum social secretary.' Apparently Ricky Williams and Charles Barkley, famed dress-wearers, were unavailable."
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! "Ricky Williams and Charles Barkley," he said.
That's hi-la-ri-ous.
"Alex Rodriguez has been contacted about playing a drag queen in an upcoming indie movie about Salvador Dali. The New York Post reports that the film's brass believes Rodriguez would be perfect in the role of Dali's 'factotum social secretary.' Apparently Ricky Williams and Charles Barkley, famed dress-wearers, were unavailable."
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! "Ricky Williams and Charles Barkley," he said.
That's hi-la-ri-ous.
"A-Rod makes more than $30 million a year to play baseball, and he'd make quite a bit less in the role of the stunning, leggy drag queen named Potassa."
He does not make more than $30 million a year to play baseball, but if Mike Lupica can't get his facts straight, why should Ben Maller?
"While it's highly unlikely he'd ever consider showing off his legs in a dress, this is the real deal."
Which is it? Is it highly unlikely or is it the real deal?
"A-Rod's people didn't comment on the story, which might be another way of saying he's got a better chance of playing for the Jets than wearing a beautiful gown."
Playing for the Jets?
That's a football team.
Ben Maller, you're outrageous!
Wait a second ... I think I've been punked ... Ben Maller is a made-up person and this is a made-up story.
Felz Stats of the Day.
-- Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira are a combined 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
-- Freddy Garcia's five wild pitches is the most by a Yankee pitcher in one game since every game A.J. Burnett pitched.
-- Freddy Garcia's five wild pitches is the most by a Yankee pitcher in one game since every game A.J. Burnett pitched.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
It's an issue.
In his first game of the season, on the first ground ball hit his way, utility man Eduardo Nunez made an error. It made for an easy reminder of last year, when despite playing a part-time role, he led the team with 20 errors.
But Girardi eliminated any question of his trust level with Nunez, starting him at third base for Alex Rodriguez, who as expected was given a day at designated hitter.
Nunez flubbed a grounder in the third inning, though it was scored an infield single for Nolan Reimold. And in the ninth, Nunez nearly misread a pop-up, recovering at the last second to catch it. But Nunez also saved a run in the fourth, making a sprawling grab to rob Wilson Betemit of a hit.
“It gives me more confidence, that they believe in what I’ve got,” Nunez said.
But Girardi eliminated any question of his trust level with Nunez, starting him at third base for Alex Rodriguez, who as expected was given a day at designated hitter.
Nunez flubbed a grounder in the third inning, though it was scored an infield single for Nolan Reimold. And in the ninth, Nunez nearly misread a pop-up, recovering at the last second to catch it. But Nunez also saved a run in the fourth, making a sprawling grab to rob Wilson Betemit of a hit.
“It gives me more confidence, that they believe in what I’ve got,” Nunez said.
Monday, April 09, 2012
The shift didn't affect the Yankee hitters psychologically. No, no, no, no, no. Nope. Definitely not.
"Mark Teixeira was robbed of a two-run single in the eighth on Saturday, one of many hits the Rays stole from the Yankees with their infield positioning. Although Teixeira worked on hitting to the opposite field this spring, Girardi wants him to take his regular approach in run-scoring situations like he did Saturday.
'If the pitch presents itself on a ball that he can drive, he's not going to try to filet it over there,' Girardi said, pointing at the left side of the infield. 'If he gets a little air under that ball, you're looking at a three-run homer and maybe it's a different ballgame. So, you don't want to turn a guy who has the ability to hit 40 homers into a Punch and Judy just to beat a shift.' "
What about when it's the ninth inning, no one is on base, and your team is losing by three?
He looks like the same ol' Giambi to me ... I mean, Teixeira.
'If the pitch presents itself on a ball that he can drive, he's not going to try to filet it over there,' Girardi said, pointing at the left side of the infield. 'If he gets a little air under that ball, you're looking at a three-run homer and maybe it's a different ballgame. So, you don't want to turn a guy who has the ability to hit 40 homers into a Punch and Judy just to beat a shift.' "
What about when it's the ninth inning, no one is on base, and your team is losing by three?
He looks like the same ol' Giambi to me ... I mean, Teixeira.
Sunday, April 08, 2012
A New York sportswriter who has never heard of Jason Bay.
"When he got here, after the big trade in February of 2004, before we found out about the steroid use in Texas, before all the injuries, he was supposed to be on his way to hitting 800 home runs, on his way to eventually being called the best baseball player of all time."
"Alex Rodriguez is the best baseball player of all time."
There.
Now he has been called the best baseball player of all time.
So he has fulfilled his contract.
"The Yankees were putting him on a team that had just been upset by the Marlins in the World Series but had won four World Series in the seven years before that, and it was going to be the start of the kind of dynasty the Yankees had produced from 1996 through 2000."
Only a fool would have thought that the Yankees were going to continue winning championships four out of every five seasons.
Other teams play baseball and, with all deference to Yogi, modern-day baseball now has three playoff rounds instead of one.
"Alex Rodriguez had New York now, and so he had the chance to be the biggest star around, not just in baseball, but in all of sports."
I guess.
I mean, who's the biggest star in all of sports? It's probably a football player, since football is the most popular sport. In fact, right now, it's probably the Jets' backup QB.
ARod is still incredibly well-known and popular and his contract is worth $250+ million and you can't stop writing about him ...
"Only despite gaudy numbers, and despite more MVP awards, and an even bigger contract that he came here with from Texas, it has not worked out that way. In Rodriguez’s eight seasons so far with the Yankees, they have won one World Series helped mightily by him, of course and played in just one."
Yawn.
MVPs. Gaudy numbers. Playoffs and World Series. New stadium. Franchise worth $2.5 billion.
He's a regular Von Hayes.
"It is the season when Rodriguez will look like one of the most dangerous hitters in the game again, the kind of hitter who hit 54 home runs and knocked in 156 five years ago, or will just continue to look like the worst contract in the history of the Yankees, in all of baseball, at least until Albert Pujols starts to break down in Anaheim."
This is tiring. ARod is not going to hit 50 HRs and drive in 150 runs. That happens rarely.
The worst contract in baseball history?
Joey Votto just signed a $250 million contract. He probably will not hit 50 HRs or drive in 150 runs.
Matt Cain just signed the biggest contract in pitching history.
Barry Zito; Mike Hampton; Darren Dreifort; the guy from KC that who refunded the last season of his contract; Pedro Martinez with the Mets; Denny Neagle; Joe Mauer; Vernon Wells; Carl Crawford; Jayson Werth; John Lackey; Albert Belle; Chan Ho Park; Richie Sexson; Kevin Millwood ... like I said, this is tiring.
Even if the analysis is limited to Yankee contracts, ARod's contract is nowhere near the worst.
Lupica knows A.J. Burnett's contract is worse (present tense, since the Yankees are still paying most of it).
He knows the Yankees paid Jorge Posada $13 million last season to drive in 44 runs.
He knows who Kei Igawa is.
He knows that the Yankees pay Teixeira $20 million per year to bat .250 and bat fifth in the lineup.
He remembers Dave Collins, Steve Kemp, Jim Abbott, Pascual Perez, Mike Witt, Hideki Irabu, Danny Tartabull, Carl Pavano ...
No New York sportswriter can be that ignorant of New York sports.
So when Lupica states that ARod is the worst contract in Yankee history -- the worst contract in baseball history -- Lupica is not truly displaying his own ignorance. Lupica is not merely and incompetent fool.
He's worse.
He's a god damned liar.
"Alex Rodriguez is the best baseball player of all time."
There.
Now he has been called the best baseball player of all time.
So he has fulfilled his contract.
"The Yankees were putting him on a team that had just been upset by the Marlins in the World Series but had won four World Series in the seven years before that, and it was going to be the start of the kind of dynasty the Yankees had produced from 1996 through 2000."
Only a fool would have thought that the Yankees were going to continue winning championships four out of every five seasons.
Other teams play baseball and, with all deference to Yogi, modern-day baseball now has three playoff rounds instead of one.
"Alex Rodriguez had New York now, and so he had the chance to be the biggest star around, not just in baseball, but in all of sports."
I guess.
I mean, who's the biggest star in all of sports? It's probably a football player, since football is the most popular sport. In fact, right now, it's probably the Jets' backup QB.
ARod is still incredibly well-known and popular and his contract is worth $250+ million and you can't stop writing about him ...
"Only despite gaudy numbers, and despite more MVP awards, and an even bigger contract that he came here with from Texas, it has not worked out that way. In Rodriguez’s eight seasons so far with the Yankees, they have won one World Series helped mightily by him, of course and played in just one."
Yawn.
MVPs. Gaudy numbers. Playoffs and World Series. New stadium. Franchise worth $2.5 billion.
He's a regular Von Hayes.
"It is the season when Rodriguez will look like one of the most dangerous hitters in the game again, the kind of hitter who hit 54 home runs and knocked in 156 five years ago, or will just continue to look like the worst contract in the history of the Yankees, in all of baseball, at least until Albert Pujols starts to break down in Anaheim."
This is tiring. ARod is not going to hit 50 HRs and drive in 150 runs. That happens rarely.
The worst contract in baseball history?
Joey Votto just signed a $250 million contract. He probably will not hit 50 HRs or drive in 150 runs.
Matt Cain just signed the biggest contract in pitching history.
Barry Zito; Mike Hampton; Darren Dreifort; the guy from KC that who refunded the last season of his contract; Pedro Martinez with the Mets; Denny Neagle; Joe Mauer; Vernon Wells; Carl Crawford; Jayson Werth; John Lackey; Albert Belle; Chan Ho Park; Richie Sexson; Kevin Millwood ... like I said, this is tiring.
Even if the analysis is limited to Yankee contracts, ARod's contract is nowhere near the worst.
Lupica knows A.J. Burnett's contract is worse (present tense, since the Yankees are still paying most of it).
He knows the Yankees paid Jorge Posada $13 million last season to drive in 44 runs.
He knows who Kei Igawa is.
He knows that the Yankees pay Teixeira $20 million per year to bat .250 and bat fifth in the lineup.
He remembers Dave Collins, Steve Kemp, Jim Abbott, Pascual Perez, Mike Witt, Hideki Irabu, Danny Tartabull, Carl Pavano ...
No New York sportswriter can be that ignorant of New York sports.
So when Lupica states that ARod is the worst contract in Yankee history -- the worst contract in baseball history -- Lupica is not truly displaying his own ignorance. Lupica is not merely and incompetent fool.
He's worse.
He's a god damned liar.
Down the rabbit hole.
"Last September, a baseball researcher with a background in physics released a groundbreaking study about catchers. Mike Fast analyzed their ability to impact the game by making pitches on the edge of the zone appear to be strikes.
He concluded that pitch framing, already considered an important skill, wasn’t being valued nearly enough.
Fast’s research suggested that a strike-stealing catcher could provide value comparable to a strong offensive player, and that the effect of framing appeared so powerful that even part-time players could significantly effect a pitching staff.
Catchers, he concluded, 'appear to have a substantial impact on the success of their pitcher through their ability to gain extra strike calls from the umpires.'
Included among the best in the game: Jose Molina, Russell Martin and an obscure journeyman named Chris Stewart. It’s the reason, a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking, that the Yankees made the deal."
The study is probably a hoax, for one thing.
For another, the last thing the Yankees need are a bunch of A.J. Burnetts trying to hit the corners with two strikes (just like Sabathia and Kuroda in the first two games of the season).
Stop nibbling the corners, you cowards. A 1-2 count always ends up becoming a 3-2 count, which ends up becoming a walk, which ends up becoming a run.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Of course, I knew Robertson should have started the ninth. I was yelling at my television that exact thing: "Don't bring in Mariano."
I have been saying that for 16 years, for crying out loud.
First recap I hear about today's game ... some guy named Chris Moore on WFAN ... a Good Friday fill-in host perhaps? ... says the Yankees are in trouble if they stick with the routine and ignore what's in front of their eyes.
Robertson should have started the ninth.
Yankee fans shouldn't be worried about Mariano per se, but they should be worried if the Yankees are unwilling to deviate from the formula.
Well, you know what? One day, Mariano will lose it. It is inevitable.
Maybe this is the day.
Maybe this is the year.
But it's hard to take these concerns seriously when I've been hearing it every time he has blown a save since 1997.
If he is finally finished and Robertson is out-pitching him, then the Yankees won't sit idly by while the team slides into third place.
You can ask Bernie and Jorge, among others, about the Yankees' priorities.
Besides, what is there to worry about? Ibanez is on pace for 648 runs batted in.
First recap I hear about today's game ... some guy named Chris Moore on WFAN ... a Good Friday fill-in host perhaps? ... says the Yankees are in trouble if they stick with the routine and ignore what's in front of their eyes.
Robertson should have started the ninth.
Yankee fans shouldn't be worried about Mariano per se, but they should be worried if the Yankees are unwilling to deviate from the formula.
Well, you know what? One day, Mariano will lose it. It is inevitable.
Maybe this is the day.
Maybe this is the year.
But it's hard to take these concerns seriously when I've been hearing it every time he has blown a save since 1997.
If he is finally finished and Robertson is out-pitching him, then the Yankees won't sit idly by while the team slides into third place.
You can ask Bernie and Jorge, among others, about the Yankees' priorities.
Besides, what is there to worry about? Ibanez is on pace for 648 runs batted in.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Brett Gardner is good, not expendable.
"So the Yankees showed up here on Tuesday without their billion-dollar infield or their star center fielder, and that sort of took the glitter off the first spring training game against the Mets since 1996."
Because, in normal circumstances, the Mayor's Trophy game is glittery.
"I’m aware these games don’t count, but if the New York teams are going to bother playing Grapefruit League games against one another, shouldn't the paying customers have some sort of guarantee they'll get to see the big names?"
No.
"Of course, here’s the real problem for the Mets. For all the Yankees who weren't here, it wasn't hard to find one that epitomizes the huge gap between the two teams these days.
Put it this way: How much do you think the Mets could use Brett Gardner?
A solid on-base percentage guy with tremendous speed, Gardner would be a lot more valuable to the Mets as their leadoff hitter and center fielder than he is as the No. 9 hitter and left fielder for the Yankees."
Well ... yeah.
Every good player is more valuable to a bad team than he is to a good team.
"Actually, the Mets would love to have someone like Gardner as a lefthanded-hitting option for left field, such is the level of concern for Jason Bay after an invisible spring."
Make an offer.
"Meanwhile, Gardner’s speed is a quite a weapon, and yet you can find baseball people who believe the Yankees would be a stronger ballclub, at least offensively, if they played Eduardo Nunez in left field."
"Baseball people."
"Instead Nunez, who is hitting .357 this spring after going 1-for-3 on Tuesday in the Mets’ 7-6 walk-off win, gives the Yankees the type of bench depth that further separates them from the Mets."
So if Gardner would help the Mets ... and Nunez is better than Gardner, according to some "baseball people" ... then Nunez could probably help the Mets even more than Gardner could.
Which is a long-winded illustration of something you already know: The Yankees are good and the Mets are bad, mostly due to the surplus of good players on the Yankees combined with the paucity of good players on the Mets.
Because, in normal circumstances, the Mayor's Trophy game is glittery.
"I’m aware these games don’t count, but if the New York teams are going to bother playing Grapefruit League games against one another, shouldn't the paying customers have some sort of guarantee they'll get to see the big names?"
No.
"Of course, here’s the real problem for the Mets. For all the Yankees who weren't here, it wasn't hard to find one that epitomizes the huge gap between the two teams these days.
Put it this way: How much do you think the Mets could use Brett Gardner?
A solid on-base percentage guy with tremendous speed, Gardner would be a lot more valuable to the Mets as their leadoff hitter and center fielder than he is as the No. 9 hitter and left fielder for the Yankees."
Well ... yeah.
Every good player is more valuable to a bad team than he is to a good team.
"Actually, the Mets would love to have someone like Gardner as a lefthanded-hitting option for left field, such is the level of concern for Jason Bay after an invisible spring."
Make an offer.
"Meanwhile, Gardner’s speed is a quite a weapon, and yet you can find baseball people who believe the Yankees would be a stronger ballclub, at least offensively, if they played Eduardo Nunez in left field."
"Baseball people."
"Instead Nunez, who is hitting .357 this spring after going 1-for-3 on Tuesday in the Mets’ 7-6 walk-off win, gives the Yankees the type of bench depth that further separates them from the Mets."
So if Gardner would help the Mets ... and Nunez is better than Gardner, according to some "baseball people" ... then Nunez could probably help the Mets even more than Gardner could.
Which is a long-winded illustration of something you already know: The Yankees are good and the Mets are bad, mostly due to the surplus of good players on the Yankees combined with the paucity of good players on the Mets.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Mike Lupica taunts the New York Yankees.
"I said this at the time that the Yankees traded for Michael Pineda, and it was another one of those winter moves that was supposed to make it game, set, match for the Yankees in the AL East again:"
You were wrong when you said that.
"I don’t care how many prospects the Mariners have coming along, they must have at least had some doubts about Pineda being the real deal, or they wouldn’t have moved a young arm like that."
Well, like most observers, I thought it was an underwhelming trade of a young hitting prospect for a young pitching prospect.
"Even for Jesus Montero, who will turn out to be the most special hitting prospect the Yankees have developed since Cano."
I was going to say most special hitting prospect since Mickey Mantle, but, you know ... if you want to take the bold stance that Montero will turn out to be a better big league hitter than Greg Golson or Ramiro Pena, then go ahead and step out on that limb.
"So suddenly the Yankees’ young-gun rotation features Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia.
Just sayin’."
Not sure what you're sayin'. The Yankees never claimed to have a young-gun rotation, and you didn't even mention the impending arrival of Pettitte. If anyone is talking about young guns, they're referring to Betances and Banuelos.
So you're essentially mocking the Yankees for their failure to meet an imaginary goal. Just like you are mocking Pineda for his failure to be a great pitcher that nobody ever thought he was.
It's an easy strategy which I can apply to anything.
When the Mets claimed that Jason Bay would rebound and hit 50 HRs this season, I knew they were exaggerating the effect of the shorter outfield fences.
You were wrong when you said that.
"I don’t care how many prospects the Mariners have coming along, they must have at least had some doubts about Pineda being the real deal, or they wouldn’t have moved a young arm like that."
Well, like most observers, I thought it was an underwhelming trade of a young hitting prospect for a young pitching prospect.
"Even for Jesus Montero, who will turn out to be the most special hitting prospect the Yankees have developed since Cano."
I was going to say most special hitting prospect since Mickey Mantle, but, you know ... if you want to take the bold stance that Montero will turn out to be a better big league hitter than Greg Golson or Ramiro Pena, then go ahead and step out on that limb.
"So suddenly the Yankees’ young-gun rotation features Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia.
Just sayin’."
Not sure what you're sayin'. The Yankees never claimed to have a young-gun rotation, and you didn't even mention the impending arrival of Pettitte. If anyone is talking about young guns, they're referring to Betances and Banuelos.
So you're essentially mocking the Yankees for their failure to meet an imaginary goal. Just like you are mocking Pineda for his failure to be a great pitcher that nobody ever thought he was.
It's an easy strategy which I can apply to anything.
When the Mets claimed that Jason Bay would rebound and hit 50 HRs this season, I knew they were exaggerating the effect of the shorter outfield fences.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Dodgers: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
- Magic Johnson group buys the Dodgers.
- Don Mattingly's son gets cut.
- Tommy Lasorda firmly believes, without a doubt, Ontario International Airport should be under local control.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Catching up with old friends.
- Ken Davidoff moves to the New York Post, where his articles can be viewed for free.
- Jon Heyman holds a baseball bat.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Mike Lupica doesn't like Alex Rodriguez very much.
Joba only makes about $1 million per year, so he can't really be considered much of a bust. He pitched 20 amazing innings 5 years ago and then he hurt his shoulder. Since his injury, there has been a disconnect between his baseball ability and his popularity.
I find it somewhat amusing that Mike Lupica makes it sound as if Joba was the first overhyped pro athlete in New York City history:
"Before there was Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow, there were those first loud moments when the bullpen doors would open at the old Stadium and Joba Chamberlain, a kid with a colorful name and backstory and fastball, would come through them, and the place would go mad with excitement."
When I reminisce about Joba's 2007 regular season, I think it was exactly what it was like in February with Jeremy Lin, what it will be like now that the Jets have decided to upgrade the position of quarterback with the football equivalent of bringing in a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family with Tebow.
"It doesn’t mean it was exactly what it was like in February with Jeremy Lin, what it will be like now that the Jets have decided to upgrade the position of quarterback with the football equivalent of bringing in a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family with Tebow."
Oh.
Thanks for setting me straight about Joba Chamberlain and whether or not his 2007 regular season was exactly what it was like in February with Jeremy Lin, what it will be like now that the Jets have decided to upgrade the position of quarterback with the football equivalent of bringing in a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family with Tebow.
Speaking of completely unrelated things:
"But is [Carmelo Anthony] a franchise player?
I also think it's a bit of a false equivalence. ARod is one of the top ten baseball players of all time (ignoring possible steroid bloat). Carmelo is maybe one of the top 30 current basketball players.
Perhaps a better analogy would be to compare Carmelo to a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family.
I find it somewhat amusing that Mike Lupica makes it sound as if Joba was the first overhyped pro athlete in New York City history:
"Before there was Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow, there were those first loud moments when the bullpen doors would open at the old Stadium and Joba Chamberlain, a kid with a colorful name and backstory and fastball, would come through them, and the place would go mad with excitement."
When I reminisce about Joba's 2007 regular season, I think it was exactly what it was like in February with Jeremy Lin, what it will be like now that the Jets have decided to upgrade the position of quarterback with the football equivalent of bringing in a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family with Tebow.
"It doesn’t mean it was exactly what it was like in February with Jeremy Lin, what it will be like now that the Jets have decided to upgrade the position of quarterback with the football equivalent of bringing in a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family with Tebow."
Oh.
Thanks for setting me straight about Joba Chamberlain and whether or not his 2007 regular season was exactly what it was like in February with Jeremy Lin, what it will be like now that the Jets have decided to upgrade the position of quarterback with the football equivalent of bringing in a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family with Tebow.
Speaking of completely unrelated things:
"But is [Carmelo Anthony] a franchise player?
Or is he really the A-Rod of professional basketball, a guy with a world of talent who needs somebody else to be The Man."
I don't think that's an accurate description of either Carmelo Anthony or Alex Rodriguez.I also think it's a bit of a false equivalence. ARod is one of the top ten baseball players of all time (ignoring possible steroid bloat). Carmelo is maybe one of the top 30 current basketball players.
Perhaps a better analogy would be to compare Carmelo to a member of the Kardashian family or maybe the entire extended Kardashian family.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Number Two Starter Battling for Rotation Spot.
"Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova raised his right hand and pinched his fingers against his thumb. He opened and closed them like a moving mouth. He needed to talk to his catcher, right away.
Moments earlier, the Orioles’ Adam Jones bounced one of Nova’s offerings off the batter’s eye above the 400-foot sign at Ed Smith Stadium. The three-run homer came off a curveball, a pitch that Gustavo Molina insisted upon, one that Nova didn’t want to throw. For Nova, who is entering a critical stretch in his bid for a rotation spot, it was a bad time for miscommunication.
...
Before the game, manager Joe Girardi said that he’d be watching his starters closely from here until the end of camp. Starts such as the one Nova made last night would figure 'a lot more' in terms of evaluation, Girardi said."
Gimme a break. He's your #2.
Moments earlier, the Orioles’ Adam Jones bounced one of Nova’s offerings off the batter’s eye above the 400-foot sign at Ed Smith Stadium. The three-run homer came off a curveball, a pitch that Gustavo Molina insisted upon, one that Nova didn’t want to throw. For Nova, who is entering a critical stretch in his bid for a rotation spot, it was a bad time for miscommunication.
...
Before the game, manager Joe Girardi said that he’d be watching his starters closely from here until the end of camp. Starts such as the one Nova made last night would figure 'a lot more' in terms of evaluation, Girardi said."
Gimme a break. He's your #2.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Joe Girardi loves to laugh.
"Honestly, I was never a huge rules guy," Girardi insists. "I expect guys to be on time and play hard. Bottom line. Take care of yourself. If you have an issue, come to me and we’ll take care of the issue. I don’t want to enforce rules, I want to grow players. For example, I don’t care about music in the clubhouse like some managers do. I actually encourage them to play it loud. I encourage guys to have fun. I think because of the way I look, with the flat top, people think I’m against fun. That’s not the case. I love to laugh."
I just flew in from Tampa and that explains why my arms are tired.
Speaking of airlines El Al and Alitalia merged and created a new airline called Well I'll Tell Ya.
Airline food is subpar and I think we can all affirm the veracity of this observation.
A horse sat down at a bar and the bartender asked the horse why the long face.
Women enjoy shopping and you can not stop a woman from shopping.
I just flew in from Tampa and that explains why my arms are tired.
Speaking of airlines El Al and Alitalia merged and created a new airline called Well I'll Tell Ya.
Airline food is subpar and I think we can all affirm the veracity of this observation.
A horse sat down at a bar and the bartender asked the horse why the long face.
Women enjoy shopping and you can not stop a woman from shopping.
Friday, March 09, 2012
David Brooks writes about baseball.
Mets players must be thrilled to hear that a New York Times columnist is rooting for them.
For the rest of us, it's just yet another topic for David Brooks to mangle incoherently:
"In 2005, I wrote a column saying that maybe it was time to abandon the and become a fan of the Washington Nationals. My reasoning was sound. We were raising our kids in Washington. We had Nats season tickets. We were acquiring Nats paraphernalia. It would be so easy to join the fold."
Really?
That is very interesting.
In 2005, I wrote a column about Mike Lupica.
"Since then, the reasons to leave the Mets and follow the Nats have become even more compelling. The Mets have suffered a pair of bone-crushing late-season collapses that have changed the personality of the franchise. The team is mired in financial turmoil. It is expected to be mediocre for the next several seasons, at best."
So you're a fan of a baseball team and you remain a fan of the team even though they are not a good team.
Kind of like every fan of every team.
"The Nats, meanwhile, have a set of astoundingly talented young players and should be thrilling to watch for the next decade."
I doubt that very much.
"There’s a core American debate between 'On the Road' and 'It’s a Wonderful Life.' 'On the Road' suggests that happiness is to be found through freedom, wandering and autonomy. 'It’s a Wonderful Life' suggests that happiness is found in the lifelong attachments that precede choice. It suggests that restraints can actually be blessings because they lead to connections that are deeper than temporary self-interest."
A core American debate in your mind only which really has nothing to do with baseball.
Why don't you try to impress your readers by reference "The Republic" and "Infinite Jest" and explain how they are competing paradigms which can be viewed through the prism of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Because then the readers might think you are clever even though you are not clever.
For the rest of us, it's just yet another topic for David Brooks to mangle incoherently:
"In 2005, I wrote a column saying that maybe it was time to abandon the and become a fan of the Washington Nationals. My reasoning was sound. We were raising our kids in Washington. We had Nats season tickets. We were acquiring Nats paraphernalia. It would be so easy to join the fold."
Really?
That is very interesting.
In 2005, I wrote a column about Mike Lupica.
"Since then, the reasons to leave the Mets and follow the Nats have become even more compelling. The Mets have suffered a pair of bone-crushing late-season collapses that have changed the personality of the franchise. The team is mired in financial turmoil. It is expected to be mediocre for the next several seasons, at best."
So you're a fan of a baseball team and you remain a fan of the team even though they are not a good team.
Kind of like every fan of every team.
"The Nats, meanwhile, have a set of astoundingly talented young players and should be thrilling to watch for the next decade."
I doubt that very much.
"There’s a core American debate between 'On the Road' and 'It’s a Wonderful Life.' 'On the Road' suggests that happiness is to be found through freedom, wandering and autonomy. 'It’s a Wonderful Life' suggests that happiness is found in the lifelong attachments that precede choice. It suggests that restraints can actually be blessings because they lead to connections that are deeper than temporary self-interest."
A core American debate in your mind only which really has nothing to do with baseball.
Why don't you try to impress your readers by reference "The Republic" and "Infinite Jest" and explain how they are competing paradigms which can be viewed through the prism of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Because then the readers might think you are clever even though you are not clever.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Two little opinions jumping on a bed, one fell off and bumped his head, mama called the dr. and the dr. said, no more opinions jumping on the bed.
Johan throws 29 pitches in Spring Training.
The ever-effervescent Mike Lupica's glass is half-full:
"Thanks to Johan Santana's superb spring debut, the NY Mets have hope for 2012," reads the headline.
"Hope" to finish within 20 games of Philly? Perhaps. Lupica is kind of vague with the numbers, so it's hard to tell:
"If Santana can come all the way back and be the Mets’ Opening Day starter, be something close to what he was before he tore up his shoulder, then maybe the Mets can be a team to watch again. And maybe, with everything stacked against them the way it is, they can be a team in which Mets fans can invest not just their money, but the belief that maybe things can get better, after 5½ years of what feels like a Biblical plague since Molina hit that Game 7 home run and Carlos Beltran took a called strike three with the season on the bases at old Shea Stadium."
Look, man, Mets fans follow the Mets and Yankee fans follow the Yankees.
I don't know what Carlos Beltran has to do with anything in 2012 Mets Spring Training, but I can guarantee that I can find one million Lupica articles in the past 5 1/2 years where Lupica has implored the NY metro audience to ignore the Yankees and follow the Amazin's.
The whole time it was a Biblical plague. Rooting for the Fightin' Terrys of 2011 was analogous with the death of your firstborn son.
Was Lupica lying then or is Lupica lying now?
"So Rakoff basically says that he and the jury get to decide this thing now and, oh by the way, good luck to Picard. Only in the New York Times, of course, out of all the papers who gave Rakoff’s ruling big coverage, was this somehow viewed as a rousing triumph for the trustee, mostly because it fit the Picard-driven narrative of this story presented in that paper from the start.
So Rakoff and jury will decide, once and for all, if they believe Wilpon and Katz were 'willfully blind' to what Madoff was doing with their money and everybody else’s. Then once the trial is over, we finally begin to find out how — and if — the Mets move forward from every bad thing that has happened to them since Game 7 of 2006, and that includes Johan Santana’s left shoulder.
So Mike Lupica, Esquire, thinks a tort is a dessert you eat at Sunday brunch.
So Mike Lupica wants to give legal analysis. Based on Lupica's track record, this article is the one place on the entire planet where I can guarantee the information regarding the Madoff trial is incorrect and the conclusions are misguided.
So Mike Lupica.
"He came back and pitched two innings Tuesday. Twenty-nine pitches. Couple of sweet changeups, some fastballs he put where he wanted them. You can understand why it felt like more in Port St. Lucie."
No, I was hoping you could explain why these two Spring Training innings felt like more.
Then I read your article. However , you did not explain this in a way that I could understand. It just sounded like a weird Mets Fan Boy unwilling to admit the likelihood of his team's last-place finish in 2012.
Jeff Passan's glass of Santana is half-empty:
"There is quite literally a hidden beauty in baseball, one nobody has seen live or ever will because it takes place beneath the skin. The shoulder is a fascinating beast, untamed, undefeated. Players receive injections with stem cells made of their own fat and steal a tendon from their wrist to fix their elbow and still, no one has solved the shoulder, at least not with any level of certainty. It is baseball’s Moby Dick."
Moby Dick is a great white whale ... but I don't see why you had to bring Joba Chamberlain into it.
"At the moment, Johan Santana looks like little more than another iffy candidate. Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., he threw 29 pitches over two shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his first action against major-league hitters since Sept. 2, 2010. Less than two weeks after that start, Santana underwent surgery on his left shoulder for an anterior capsule tear. He tried returning in August 2011. After five Class A innings, his shoulder barked no.
Just how many games is he going to win to give the Mets hope?
The ever-effervescent Mike Lupica's glass is half-full:
"Thanks to Johan Santana's superb spring debut, the NY Mets have hope for 2012," reads the headline.
"Hope" to finish within 20 games of Philly? Perhaps. Lupica is kind of vague with the numbers, so it's hard to tell:
"If Santana can come all the way back and be the Mets’ Opening Day starter, be something close to what he was before he tore up his shoulder, then maybe the Mets can be a team to watch again. And maybe, with everything stacked against them the way it is, they can be a team in which Mets fans can invest not just their money, but the belief that maybe things can get better, after 5½ years of what feels like a Biblical plague since Molina hit that Game 7 home run and Carlos Beltran took a called strike three with the season on the bases at old Shea Stadium."
Look, man, Mets fans follow the Mets and Yankee fans follow the Yankees.
I don't know what Carlos Beltran has to do with anything in 2012 Mets Spring Training, but I can guarantee that I can find one million Lupica articles in the past 5 1/2 years where Lupica has implored the NY metro audience to ignore the Yankees and follow the Amazin's.
The whole time it was a Biblical plague. Rooting for the Fightin' Terrys of 2011 was analogous with the death of your firstborn son.
Was Lupica lying then or is Lupica lying now?
"So Rakoff basically says that he and the jury get to decide this thing now and, oh by the way, good luck to Picard. Only in the New York Times, of course, out of all the papers who gave Rakoff’s ruling big coverage, was this somehow viewed as a rousing triumph for the trustee, mostly because it fit the Picard-driven narrative of this story presented in that paper from the start.
So Rakoff and jury will decide, once and for all, if they believe Wilpon and Katz were 'willfully blind' to what Madoff was doing with their money and everybody else’s. Then once the trial is over, we finally begin to find out how — and if — the Mets move forward from every bad thing that has happened to them since Game 7 of 2006, and that includes Johan Santana’s left shoulder.
So Mike Lupica, Esquire, thinks a tort is a dessert you eat at Sunday brunch.
So Mike Lupica wants to give legal analysis. Based on Lupica's track record, this article is the one place on the entire planet where I can guarantee the information regarding the Madoff trial is incorrect and the conclusions are misguided.
So Mike Lupica.
"He came back and pitched two innings Tuesday. Twenty-nine pitches. Couple of sweet changeups, some fastballs he put where he wanted them. You can understand why it felt like more in Port St. Lucie."
No, I was hoping you could explain why these two Spring Training innings felt like more.
Then I read your article. However , you did not explain this in a way that I could understand. It just sounded like a weird Mets Fan Boy unwilling to admit the likelihood of his team's last-place finish in 2012.
Jeff Passan's glass of Santana is half-empty:
"There is quite literally a hidden beauty in baseball, one nobody has seen live or ever will because it takes place beneath the skin. The shoulder is a fascinating beast, untamed, undefeated. Players receive injections with stem cells made of their own fat and steal a tendon from their wrist to fix their elbow and still, no one has solved the shoulder, at least not with any level of certainty. It is baseball’s Moby Dick."
Moby Dick is a great white whale ... but I don't see why you had to bring Joba Chamberlain into it.
"At the moment, Johan Santana looks like little more than another iffy candidate. Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., he threw 29 pitches over two shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his first action against major-league hitters since Sept. 2, 2010. Less than two weeks after that start, Santana underwent surgery on his left shoulder for an anterior capsule tear. He tried returning in August 2011. After five Class A innings, his shoulder barked no.
That the New York Mets still have him penciled in for an opening-day start this season is either a reflexive response to the painful salaries they owe him for the next two years – $54.5 million, assuming they turn down a 2014 club option – or extreme faith in something with little history to warrant it. The list of pitchers who returned from capsule-tear surgery to anything near their previous level reads like this:
It killed Mark Prior’s career, slowed down Chien-Ming Wang’s, halted Pedro Feliciano’s and derailed dozens more before doctors could identify the exact problem. It’s why when pitchers go in for MRIs, they beg for the doctor to say: 'Elbow.' "
Just how many games is he going to win to give the Mets hope?
Pitchers can't hit.
"Major League Baseball has expanded its pool of postseason teams to 10 -- up from four just 19 years ago -- and next year will re-align into 15-team leagues that make for at least one interleague series all season long. But the biggest change of all may be around the next corner: the end of baseball as it was originally designed."
I think the introduction of mitts was the end of baseball as it was originally designed, but, whatever. Most things are inferior if they cling to how they were originally designed.
"Moreover, events of this winter spotlighted the negotiating advantage that AL teams have over NL teams with the use of the DH. Prince Fielder (nine-year contract) and Albert Pujols (10 years) jumped to AL clubs as free agents in part because AL teams can afford to offer longer contracts because a player can transition to the DH role as he ages. Eleven of the 13 richest contracts ever given to position players have been bankrolled by AL teams."
I think the lack of a DH hurts NL teams as described.
"There is no question that the style of NL baseball is more interesting and nuanced than AL baseball. Yes, it's a better game, the way chess is a better game than checkers. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, just like Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, is one of the greatest games ever played because there was no DH. Texas manager Ron Washington used nine players in his number nine spot in his order. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa used pitchers in four of his nine spots and -- when down two runs in the 10th inning -- ran out of position players and had to use a pitcher to hit for a pitcher."
Hooray, everybody. He had to use a pitcher to hit for a pitcher.
Blech.
It's hardly like comparing chess to checkers. It's like comparing tic-tac-toe to tic-tac-toe.
I can easily make a counter-argument that Grady Little would have kept his job if he had the pinch-hitter option making his decision for him.
Besides, what do you remember about Game Six in 1975? You remember Fisk's homer. Another non-pitcher hitting another homerun.
I think the introduction of mitts was the end of baseball as it was originally designed, but, whatever. Most things are inferior if they cling to how they were originally designed.
"Moreover, events of this winter spotlighted the negotiating advantage that AL teams have over NL teams with the use of the DH. Prince Fielder (nine-year contract) and Albert Pujols (10 years) jumped to AL clubs as free agents in part because AL teams can afford to offer longer contracts because a player can transition to the DH role as he ages. Eleven of the 13 richest contracts ever given to position players have been bankrolled by AL teams."
I think the lack of a DH hurts NL teams as described.
"There is no question that the style of NL baseball is more interesting and nuanced than AL baseball. Yes, it's a better game, the way chess is a better game than checkers. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, just like Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, is one of the greatest games ever played because there was no DH. Texas manager Ron Washington used nine players in his number nine spot in his order. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa used pitchers in four of his nine spots and -- when down two runs in the 10th inning -- ran out of position players and had to use a pitcher to hit for a pitcher."
Hooray, everybody. He had to use a pitcher to hit for a pitcher.
Blech.
It's hardly like comparing chess to checkers. It's like comparing tic-tac-toe to tic-tac-toe.
I can easily make a counter-argument that Grady Little would have kept his job if he had the pinch-hitter option making his decision for him.
Besides, what do you remember about Game Six in 1975? You remember Fisk's homer. Another non-pitcher hitting another homerun.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Statistics.
"It isn't so long now since Ryan Braun won his appeal and got his 50-game suspension overturned and what he still hasn't explained - even as he apparently thinks his story should be the one in 'Les Miserables' — is how was enough of a scientific genius to do all that.
Spike two samples perfectly.
Fool the testers at the lab.
I mean, if Laurenzi can do all that, he's wasting his time on urine samples, the guy ought to be an art thief figuring out a way to rob the Met.
How did he do it?
And why did he do it?"
Braun indirectly attacked Laurenzi, this is true, but Braun has not charged Laurenzi with a crime.
False negatives are real things. Remember the NBA in the 1980s? When nobody failed a drug test? Instead of concluding the league is clean, one may conclude the test was flawed.
False positives are also real things (though they are "extremely unlikely" -- kind of like Braun's likelihood of overturning his drug test results, given MLB's previous overturn percentage of 0.00%) .
Spike two samples perfectly.
Fool the testers at the lab.
I mean, if Laurenzi can do all that, he's wasting his time on urine samples, the guy ought to be an art thief figuring out a way to rob the Met.
How did he do it?
And why did he do it?"
Braun indirectly attacked Laurenzi, this is true, but Braun has not charged Laurenzi with a crime.
False negatives are real things. Remember the NBA in the 1980s? When nobody failed a drug test? Instead of concluding the league is clean, one may conclude the test was flawed.
False positives are also real things (though they are "extremely unlikely" -- kind of like Braun's likelihood of overturning his drug test results, given MLB's previous overturn percentage of 0.00%) .
The testosterone levels of Braun's drug tests are something like this: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,1 , 20, 20, 1, 1, 1. Probably exaggerated for the sake of this illustration.
The highest previous reading in the history of testosterone is 10.
So would you conclude that Braun suddenly used twice as much testosterone as anyone in history? Or might you conclude that the test was mistaken somehow? A clerical error, a damaged sample, a faulty calibration, etc.
I'm not saying this happened in this case for sure; I'm saying it happens for sure.
Seriously, how do you pay him, and Cano, and keep paying A-Rod and Sabathia and Teixeira?"
They won't lower their payroll all the way to $189 million. Shrug.
Hal (not Hank) Steinbrenner is actually somewhat intelligent. He is correctly asserting that the Yankees can produce similar results with young players, particularly young pitchers.
So would you conclude that Braun suddenly used twice as much testosterone as anyone in history? Or might you conclude that the test was mistaken somehow? A clerical error, a damaged sample, a faulty calibration, etc.
I'm not saying this happened in this case for sure; I'm saying it happens for sure.
If your thermometer says it's 1,000 degrees outside, it's most likely a problem with your thermometer.
Why would Laurenzi do it? Maybe he's a Cardinals fan. Or maybe somebody at the lab is a Cardinals fan. Or maybe somebody at the lab is a trickster or an incompetent intern or maybe the lab thinks Six Sigma is a fraternity.
Which is one reason -- the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights being the primary reason -- pro baseball players shouldn't even give urine samples in the first place.
"If the Yankees are going to get under that $189 million threshold by 2014, they better hope that Curtis Granderson stops hitting all those home runs.
Seriously, how do you pay him, and Cano, and keep paying A-Rod and Sabathia and Teixeira?"
They won't lower their payroll all the way to $189 million. Shrug.
Hal (not Hank) Steinbrenner is actually somewhat intelligent. He is correctly asserting that the Yankees can produce similar results with young players, particularly young pitchers.
In other words: Fewer A.J. Burnetts, more Aldo Novas.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Apparently, ARod is all in.
I think ARod is going to have a good offensive year.
But, you know, this is about the 1,000th time ARod has supposedly crossed an imaginary Maturity Boundary and become a True Yankee:
"But on Friday morning, hours before they’d open their spring schedule against the University of South Florida and start all over again, sources said Rodriguez commanded the room for more than 10 minutes like he never had before."
A ten-minute Spring Training speech.
On Friday morning, at work, I spent more than ten minutes discussing the relative merits of pomegranate iced tea vs. lemon iced tea. There's one iced tea with black pepper and pomegranate and it didn't taste too good, but it tastes good without the black pepper.
" 'It was great,' said one witness. 'I’d never seen that out of him before. I didn’t know he had it in him.' "
One witness is quite a source.
"According to those in the clubhouse, however, Rodriguez talked about being 'all in.' He advised them that, on that subject, there was only black or white, 'no gray.' He said each of them – from the biggest superstar to the last guy on the 40-man – knew what 'all in' meant. They’d had to have been 'all in' just to sit in that room, to make it this far. And that every man knew exactly what his 'all in' amounted to, in work ethic and dedication and sacrifice. He asked them to find that within them, to bring it every day, all season long, for the good of the Yankees. For the good of themselves."
According to unnamed witnesses in the clubhouse.
" 'Amazing,' a witness said. 'The guys were drawn to him.' "
A witness.
This didn't really happen, did it?
But, you know, this is about the 1,000th time ARod has supposedly crossed an imaginary Maturity Boundary and become a True Yankee:
"But on Friday morning, hours before they’d open their spring schedule against the University of South Florida and start all over again, sources said Rodriguez commanded the room for more than 10 minutes like he never had before."
A ten-minute Spring Training speech.
On Friday morning, at work, I spent more than ten minutes discussing the relative merits of pomegranate iced tea vs. lemon iced tea. There's one iced tea with black pepper and pomegranate and it didn't taste too good, but it tastes good without the black pepper.
" 'It was great,' said one witness. 'I’d never seen that out of him before. I didn’t know he had it in him.' "
One witness is quite a source.
"According to those in the clubhouse, however, Rodriguez talked about being 'all in.' He advised them that, on that subject, there was only black or white, 'no gray.' He said each of them – from the biggest superstar to the last guy on the 40-man – knew what 'all in' meant. They’d had to have been 'all in' just to sit in that room, to make it this far. And that every man knew exactly what his 'all in' amounted to, in work ethic and dedication and sacrifice. He asked them to find that within them, to bring it every day, all season long, for the good of the Yankees. For the good of themselves."
According to unnamed witnesses in the clubhouse.
" 'Amazing,' a witness said. 'The guys were drawn to him.' "
A witness.
This didn't really happen, did it?
Thursday, March 01, 2012
I love (insert name of Boston manager) and (insert name of Boston GM).
I feel kind of bad for Treey Francona and Theo Epstein. They've lost their honored place in the chambers of Mike Lupica's heart, replaced suddenly by Bobby Valentine and What's-His-Name:
"Valentine brings life and fun and even some nonsense to the whole thing now, in the first real week of spring training, whether he is talking about Derek Jeter and a play he made more than 10 years ago, or Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez getting into it one Saturday at Fenway nearly eight years ago. Or turning around the next day and doing everything except sending Jeter a bottle of wine as a peace offering."
The first real week of spring training.
When all the action happens.
Like a gaggle of Yankee players pondering who is going to throw pies in players' faces.
"Who knows how long Valentine lasts in Boston, and who cares?"
"Valentine brings life and fun and even some nonsense to the whole thing now, in the first real week of spring training, whether he is talking about Derek Jeter and a play he made more than 10 years ago, or Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez getting into it one Saturday at Fenway nearly eight years ago. Or turning around the next day and doing everything except sending Jeter a bottle of wine as a peace offering."
The first real week of spring training.
When all the action happens.
Like a gaggle of Yankee players pondering who is going to throw pies in players' faces.
"Who knows how long Valentine lasts in Boston, and who cares?"
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Almost everyone wants to be an underdog.
Hooray for David Wright:
"Not everyone was wowed by the additions to the clubhouse.
'I don’t really like using the whole underdog thing,' David Wright said. 'I don’t like really playing that card. I think it’s just a way to remind everyone in here that the outside expectations aren’t the expectations we have for ourselves.' "
"Not everyone was wowed by the additions to the clubhouse.
'I don’t really like using the whole underdog thing,' David Wright said. 'I don’t like really playing that card. I think it’s just a way to remind everyone in here that the outside expectations aren’t the expectations we have for ourselves.' "
Peter Gammons has nothing to say.
"They hadn't made the postseason in two years or won a playoff game since 2008, they'd blown the biggest September lead in history, been ridiculed as being characters from a lite beer commercial and while they'd offered up their best defense, they knew this was, in Bruce Hornsby's words, the end of the innocence."
Bruce Hornsby co-wrote that song with Don Henley. Peter Gammons casually references that factoid to let you know he's smarter than you.
"The agony of Aaron Boone in 2003 and the ecstasy of ending the 86-year itch in 2004 was the fantasy of Red Sox history, and when they won again in '07 and became the first team to win twice in the 21st century, there was an expectancy the Red Sox had never encountered -- an entitlement, players believed -- but by the moment Evan Longoria went yard against the Yankees on the final day of the regular season last year, there was no urgency to have one's picture taken with the trophy. 'We've been poisoned by these lies/the lawyers clean up the details/since Daddy had to lie,' and Terry Francona had to leave because of all he had to say for his players."
Get ready for the trashing of Francona and praising of Valentine:
" 'It's been an interesting Spring Training, because Bobby has been everywhere,' says Kevin Youkilis. 'His energy is unbelievable. He's always talking about some detail of the game. It's great. It's his team, no doubt.'
Asked about Valentine's ban on alcohol, Josh Beckett said, 'Whatever the manager thinks is right is fine. The only thing that matters is being focused on doing what we need to do to win. We want it; the fans deserve it. Fine.'
'"The clubhouse ain't no bar,' said David Ortiz. 'It's about baseball. That's what Bobby Valentine is all about.'
...
'This thing is no big deal,' said Dustin Pedroia. 'The only big deal is winning, and I think a lot of us are still angry about what happened last September and want to focus all our attention on getting back to winning.' Which is all Valentine talks about."
So it's not an article. It's a press release.
Bruce Hornsby co-wrote that song with Don Henley. Peter Gammons casually references that factoid to let you know he's smarter than you.
"The agony of Aaron Boone in 2003 and the ecstasy of ending the 86-year itch in 2004 was the fantasy of Red Sox history, and when they won again in '07 and became the first team to win twice in the 21st century, there was an expectancy the Red Sox had never encountered -- an entitlement, players believed -- but by the moment Evan Longoria went yard against the Yankees on the final day of the regular season last year, there was no urgency to have one's picture taken with the trophy. 'We've been poisoned by these lies/the lawyers clean up the details/since Daddy had to lie,' and Terry Francona had to leave because of all he had to say for his players."
Get ready for the trashing of Francona and praising of Valentine:
" 'It's been an interesting Spring Training, because Bobby has been everywhere,' says Kevin Youkilis. 'His energy is unbelievable. He's always talking about some detail of the game. It's great. It's his team, no doubt.'
Asked about Valentine's ban on alcohol, Josh Beckett said, 'Whatever the manager thinks is right is fine. The only thing that matters is being focused on doing what we need to do to win. We want it; the fans deserve it. Fine.'
'"The clubhouse ain't no bar,' said David Ortiz. 'It's about baseball. That's what Bobby Valentine is all about.'
...
'This thing is no big deal,' said Dustin Pedroia. 'The only big deal is winning, and I think a lot of us are still angry about what happened last September and want to focus all our attention on getting back to winning.' Which is all Valentine talks about."
So it's not an article. It's a press release.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Put down your gun and listen to Bob Marley.
Consider the credibility of a man who likes "Dancing With The Stars" and doesn't like "Ali G."
Hidden deep with in Lupica's latest long-winded attempt to explain why he was wrong about baseball, and wrong about performance-enhancing drugs, and wrong about baseball players accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs, is this particular deal-breaker:
"Catch me up on something:
Hidden deep with in Lupica's latest long-winded attempt to explain why he was wrong about baseball, and wrong about performance-enhancing drugs, and wrong about baseball players accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs, is this particular deal-breaker:
"Catch me up on something:
Who thinks Sacha Baron Cohen is funny?
Better question: Who ever thought this guy was funny?"
Friday, February 24, 2012
Braun exonerated, just like you thought.
Bonds not in jail, Clemens not in jail, Lupica still allowed to opine publicly.
Understand: Just because Lupica has a job, doesn't mean he's good at it. There's a difference:
"Understand something: The overturning of Braun’s 50-game suspension doesn’t mean Braun is clean, no matter what he says or how many times he says it or what he expects reasonable people to believe.
He wasn’t exonerated. He was acquitted. There’s a difference."
Understand: Just because Lupica has a job, doesn't mean he's good at it. There's a difference:
"Understand something: The overturning of Braun’s 50-game suspension doesn’t mean Braun is clean, no matter what he says or how many times he says it or what he expects reasonable people to believe.
He wasn’t exonerated. He was acquitted. There’s a difference."
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
El hombre.
" 'Like I say, I haven't talked to them, but I prefer not to use (El Hombre),' Pujols said Wednesday.
It's an emotional issue for Pujols because he became acquainted with 90-year-old Musial in his 11 seasons playing in St. Louis. In 2010, Pujols asked St. Louis media and fans not to call him "El Hombre."
'I still have the same respect for him as I had, not just for what he's done in baseball but for what he did for his country,' Pujols said. 'That's something you have to appreciate.' "
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Classy.
"Burnett the Pirate took some blame for his failures with the Yankees yesterday at Pirate City, but also said he may have let too many people in pinstripes mess with his mechanics.
'Without getting too far into it,' Burnett explained, 'I would just say I let a few too many people tinker with me and when you let that happen, you get out there, you start doubting yourself sometimes, like, "Am I doing it right? Is this the way it is supposed to feel?"
'In ’09 nobody messed with me,' Burnett said of the Yankees’ World Series championship season. 'I was able to do what I wanted to do on the mound, whether it was turn all the way around, close my eyes; pitch upside down, whatever it was. Then you have a few bad games and you start changing and listening.' "
'Without getting too far into it,' Burnett explained, 'I would just say I let a few too many people tinker with me and when you let that happen, you get out there, you start doubting yourself sometimes, like, "Am I doing it right? Is this the way it is supposed to feel?"
'In ’09 nobody messed with me,' Burnett said of the Yankees’ World Series championship season. 'I was able to do what I wanted to do on the mound, whether it was turn all the way around, close my eyes; pitch upside down, whatever it was. Then you have a few bad games and you start changing and listening.' "
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Paying A.J. Burnett to pitch for another team.
"According to sources, the Pirates will pay about $14 million of the money left on Burnett’s contract. The Yankees have been paying Burnett throughout the year, rather than just during the six months of the baseball season, so they’ve already paid him $2.625 million in 2012, meaning there is $30.375 million remaining on Burnett’s deal.
Burnett signed the five-year, $82.5 million deal after a 2008 season in which he was terrific for the Blue Jays, including multiple dominant outings against the Yankees. He was so good that some Yankees lobbied GM Brian Cashman to sign him and Burnett paid off in ’09, going 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA in the regular season and 1-1 in the World Series victory over Philadelphia.
But Burnett, 35, struggled the last two seasons, rarely approaching his previous success. With a glut of pitchers for the rotation after signing Hiroki Kuroda and trading for Michael Pineda, the Yanks cleared space by dealing Burnett for hard-throwing reliever Diego Moreno and outfielder Exicardo Cayones. Now Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia will vie for the No. 5 spot."
The numbers don't really add up and Cashman simply made a mistake by signing Burnett in the first place.
In my opinion, the Yankees simply got sick and tired of the psychological and emotional toll that Burnett took on the coaching staff and the team.
Burnett signed the five-year, $82.5 million deal after a 2008 season in which he was terrific for the Blue Jays, including multiple dominant outings against the Yankees. He was so good that some Yankees lobbied GM Brian Cashman to sign him and Burnett paid off in ’09, going 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA in the regular season and 1-1 in the World Series victory over Philadelphia.
But Burnett, 35, struggled the last two seasons, rarely approaching his previous success. With a glut of pitchers for the rotation after signing Hiroki Kuroda and trading for Michael Pineda, the Yanks cleared space by dealing Burnett for hard-throwing reliever Diego Moreno and outfielder Exicardo Cayones. Now Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia will vie for the No. 5 spot."
The numbers don't really add up and Cashman simply made a mistake by signing Burnett in the first place.
In my opinion, the Yankees simply got sick and tired of the psychological and emotional toll that Burnett took on the coaching staff and the team.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Burnett balks at trade.
Burnett also probably hit a batter and threw a wild pitch:
"The Yankees were hoping they could bring back Bobby Abreu to be their designated hitter by swapping A.J. Burnett to the Angels, but the righthander would not waive his no-trade rights, according to two baseball executives with knowledge of the talks.
So rather than having their winter business concluded and a DH in place, the Yankees Wednesday were still working on sending Burnett to the Pirates for two marginal prospects, one of the executives said. The executive said the trade could be consummated by the weekend — Burnett is slated to report to Yankees spring camp Sunday."
I don't want Burnett and I also don't want Abreu.
"The Yankees were hoping they could bring back Bobby Abreu to be their designated hitter by swapping A.J. Burnett to the Angels, but the righthander would not waive his no-trade rights, according to two baseball executives with knowledge of the talks.
So rather than having their winter business concluded and a DH in place, the Yankees Wednesday were still working on sending Burnett to the Pirates for two marginal prospects, one of the executives said. The executive said the trade could be consummated by the weekend — Burnett is slated to report to Yankees spring camp Sunday."
I don't want Burnett and I also don't want Abreu.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
In certain circumstances, Teixeira should bunt. But he will not.
"Three years after signing Mark Teixeira, the Yankees have reason to be moderately disappointed with their $180 million first baseman.
There were no complaints following his first season in pinstripes, when his combined on-base and slugging percentages were third in the American League and the Yankees won the World Series.
But since then, his value has headed south. According to Fangraphs.com, his play in 2010-11 was worth $32 million to the Yankees, well short of the $44 million he was paid."
"Moderately disappointed" sound about right.
"Frustrated with the frequency with which balls off his bat have found the gloves of opposing fielders of late, Teixeira recently wondered if defensive shifts might be getting the best of him.
He even suggested that he 'might lay some bunts down this year' against the shift to increase his batting average."
I don't think he will, simply because it looks silly.
Not even Brett Gardner bunts too often.
Players hate it when they make out on a bunt. They feel like they gave away an at-bat without even trying.
Teixeira has Giambi Disease and tries to hit a HR every time up. HRs and RBIs = money. Bunt singles don't = money.
There were no complaints following his first season in pinstripes, when his combined on-base and slugging percentages were third in the American League and the Yankees won the World Series.
But since then, his value has headed south. According to Fangraphs.com, his play in 2010-11 was worth $32 million to the Yankees, well short of the $44 million he was paid."
"Moderately disappointed" sound about right.
"Frustrated with the frequency with which balls off his bat have found the gloves of opposing fielders of late, Teixeira recently wondered if defensive shifts might be getting the best of him.
He even suggested that he 'might lay some bunts down this year' against the shift to increase his batting average."
I don't think he will, simply because it looks silly.
Not even Brett Gardner bunts too often.
Players hate it when they make out on a bunt. They feel like they gave away an at-bat without even trying.
Teixeira has Giambi Disease and tries to hit a HR every time up. HRs and RBIs = money. Bunt singles don't = money.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Mike Lupica doesn't like the Yankees?
Were you thinking about the Yankees when the Giants won the Super Bowl? Because I wasn't thinking about the Yankees when the Giants won the Super Bowl:
" ...the Giants can still feel like the biggest team we have, and that includes the Yankees. The Yankees are there in the playoffs every year, of course, and have won an epic number of World Series.
The Giants win better."
Ummm ...
"Now, second time in four years, they win better than any New York team ever has.
Say it again: You can put all the other great seasons up against them, Namath and Seaver and Willis Reed and whatever you think is the best Yankee victory of them all. Nothing beats what the Giants have done to the Patriots in these two Super Bowls."
What about Terry Collins and the 2011 Mets?
You forgot about Terry Collins and the 2011 Mets who almost played .500 because they were gritty.
" ...the Giants can still feel like the biggest team we have, and that includes the Yankees. The Yankees are there in the playoffs every year, of course, and have won an epic number of World Series.
The Giants win better."
Ummm ...
"Now, second time in four years, they win better than any New York team ever has.
Say it again: You can put all the other great seasons up against them, Namath and Seaver and Willis Reed and whatever you think is the best Yankee victory of them all. Nothing beats what the Giants have done to the Patriots in these two Super Bowls."
What about Terry Collins and the 2011 Mets?
You forgot about Terry Collins and the 2011 Mets who almost played .500 because they were gritty.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
I'll say what everyone else is thinking.
"If Montero does bloom in Seattle, the M’s may have a former star to thank, in part, anyway. Montero noted the learned a lot from Alex Rodriguez last year. 'He was mad at me because I wasn’t going to the cage a lot and he said if you don’t, you’re going to be fined $100 a day,' Montero said. 'Then I was going a lot and I learned all the routines he taught me.' "
The routine goes like this: First, you get a mule to provide the steroids. Second, you find an injection place on the body that is hidden from view. Third, you cycle different drugs, so a helpful tip is to keep a calendar ...
The routine goes like this: First, you get a mule to provide the steroids. Second, you find an injection place on the body that is hidden from view. Third, you cycle different drugs, so a helpful tip is to keep a calendar ...
Catching up with Choo Choo Coleman.
"Craig Anderson, who has a 19-game losing streak still working since 1964, and Bill Wakefield, who was a Mets closer in 1964, remember Coleman as an agile, willing catcher who had the disconcerting habit of glancing at his own fingers as he flashed the signals"
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The Yankees have an elite starting rotation, according to this guy.
I hope the Yankees have an elite starting rotation.
However, I must say, I'm not too confident in the source:
However, I must say, I'm not too confident in the source:
"Even though last October provided its contradictions, 2011 was the second consecutive 'Year of the Pitcher' for Major League Baseball.
It gave fans the game’s first 'super rotation,' a group of arms compiled through trades and free agency with an expectation of dominance."
If I am understanding correctly, he is claiming that the 2010 Phillies were the first "super rotation" in baseball history.
"This offseason, other teams have followed Philadelphia’s pattern, or at least attempted to. That has led to a number of rotations with at least one legitimate ace (and sometimes more)."
Good luck.
Pretty much:
" 'Around the game, Burnett has become the symbol for wasted money,' said an AL East scout who also believes the Yankees will have to eat at least $20 million. 'When you’ve got a guy who has managed to pitch below .500 (34-35) for a team with the Yankees offense, yeah, it’ll make you apprehensive. This is the question now being asked, even about guys like Oswalt and Jackson. How much do you pay for mediocrity?' "
" 'Around the game, Burnett has become the symbol for wasted money,' said an AL East scout who also believes the Yankees will have to eat at least $20 million. 'When you’ve got a guy who has managed to pitch below .500 (34-35) for a team with the Yankees offense, yeah, it’ll make you apprehensive. This is the question now being asked, even about guys like Oswalt and Jackson. How much do you pay for mediocrity?' "
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I'm lovin' it.
"Former relief ace" signs a contract:
"The team also avoided arbitration with former relief ace Joba Chamberlain, agreeing to pay him $1.675 million."
That's 1.675 million dollar menu cheeseburgers.
"The team also avoided arbitration with former relief ace Joba Chamberlain, agreeing to pay him $1.675 million."
That's 1.675 million dollar menu cheeseburgers.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
"It is weird."
Can you believe Wright is about to play his ninth year? He's a good player, but it just seems he has not quite realized his transcendent expectations, and a lot of people still expect him to suddenly turn into an MVP-caliber player ... as if the first eight years of his career are not a large enough sample size:
" 'It is weird where it seems like yesterday we were winning the division by a crazy number of games and that I never heard myself in a trade rumor,' Wright said Friday before hosting his second-annual Vegas Night here to benefit the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. 'And now, all of a sudden, it’s every day.' "
" 'It is weird where it seems like yesterday we were winning the division by a crazy number of games and that I never heard myself in a trade rumor,' Wright said Friday before hosting his second-annual Vegas Night here to benefit the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. 'And now, all of a sudden, it’s every day.' "
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wrong.
I thought the Yankees would keep Montero for sure, now that he is finally ready for the big leagues.
In fact, I blogged five weeks ago that "The Yankees will not trade Jesus Montero."
In fact, I blogged five weeks ago that "The Yankees will not trade Jesus Montero."
Sunday, January 08, 2012
That is an odd thing to say.
"To ever be Chicago's Derek Jeter, it requires the smarts and savvy the Yankees superstar has exercised to avoid the type of messy predicament Castro faced Friday.
One day after Chairman Tom Ricketts took a $15 million stand for character by paying Zambrano to go away, representatives for the Cubs' biggest star defended him against a sexual-assault allegation. The denials were strong and swift."
Of course, I am unsure about the validity of sexual assault allegations.
I'm just saying, I'm not so sure if The Edge is the correct role model vis a vis the aforementioned allegations.
One day after Chairman Tom Ricketts took a $15 million stand for character by paying Zambrano to go away, representatives for the Cubs' biggest star defended him against a sexual-assault allegation. The denials were strong and swift."
Of course, I am unsure about the validity of sexual assault allegations.
I'm just saying, I'm not so sure if The Edge is the correct role model vis a vis the aforementioned allegations.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Trifecta.
"When you think of Joe Torre, you think of a guy who has already scripted perhaps the greatest second act in baseball history."
When I think of Joe Torre, I think of the power of anti-oxidants in Bigelow Green Tea.
"Now, it appears, he's looking for Act III."
Or, as we say in America, "Act 3."
"Should his group succeed in the purchase, the 71-year old Torre would have completed an incredible Baseball Trifecta, going player to manager to owner. That doesn't even get into other hats Torre has worn in baseball, including broadcaster and MLB executive."
Joe Torre was a broadcaster? I wonder if he ever brought up Bob Gibson.
You forgot author!
"When he left the Yankees following the 2007 season it was due to what Torre perceived as a lack of respect from the late George Steinbrenner, who offered him an incentive-laden contract with base salary below what he had been earning. While it clearly did not sit well with Torre, he thanked Steinbrenner for his time in pinstripes and was quickly hired to manage the Dodgers."
Well, that's not quite right. Torre trashed Steinbrenner and many other Yankees in a book you seem to have conveniently forgot.
But that doesn't even matter.
Good for him. He'll be a fine owner, I'm sure, as long as he lets someone else manage the bullpen.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Happy New Year!
Let's start the new year off with Mike Lupica referring to Alex Rodriguez in the past tense.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Production vs. Efficiency.
Pretty good article which I think may have indirectly led me to change my mind regarding Edgar Martinez's HOF credentials, from nay to yea:
"What baffles me is the argument that Edgar Martinez isn't a Hall-of-Famer because he was a designated hitter. It's like not voting for Greg Maddux because he didn't rush for enough yardage. It's a total non sequitur -- it's an invented reason that makes no sense. A reprise of the facts from above:
The rules of baseball have, since 1973, required that every team in the American League fill a position known as 'the designated hitter'
Edgar Martinez was the best designated hitter in the history of the sport"
I think you obviously have to be more productive as a DH than as a gold glove shortstop.
I'm not sure how many people are disqualifying Martinez solely because of his position, but it's a clear handicap compared to players who made an impact in the field.
"There are 19 players who finished their careers with a batting average over .300, an on-base percentage over .400, and a slugging percentage over .500. Two of them played for the Rockies, pre-humidor. Two of them might never make the Hall of Fame because of scandal. Three of them will make the Hall of Fame unless they're caught up in a scandal. The rest are super-inner-circle-gold-star Hall-of-Famers. Jimmie Foxx. Mel Ott. Stan Musial. Those types."
Batting average and on-base percentage reflect a player's efficiency.
HOF entrants tend to amass stats over a long career.
I think that's the crux of the argument, rather than the pro-DH vs. anti-DH.
At first glance, I don't think Martinez's scoreboard stats are enough to put him in the HOF: .312, 309 HRs, 1,261 RBIs.
Runs scored: 1,219, which ranks him 160th all-time.
Willie Randolph had more runs scored.
160th on the list surrounds Martinez with good players, but not HOF types.
RBIs: 1,261, which ranks him 121st all-time. Some HOFers had fewer, lots of non-HOFers had more.
Harold Baines had 400 more RBIs.
Jeff Kent had 300 more RBIs and played the field.
But then I thought about it a little more. In terms of overall production, Martinez is a rare batter who gets a lot of walks and a lot or extra-base hits, who gets a lot of runs scored and a lot of RBIs.
Runs Created: 1,631, 58th all-time. (Problem is, I can't quite figure out the Bill Freakin' James definition of Runs Created.)
162-game averages: .312/.418/.515, 24 HRs, 41 doubles, 96 runs, 99 RBIs.
In any case, my observation is that Martinez probably belongs in the HOF, even though his production stats don't really make his induction a slam dunk.
"What baffles me is the argument that Edgar Martinez isn't a Hall-of-Famer because he was a designated hitter. It's like not voting for Greg Maddux because he didn't rush for enough yardage. It's a total non sequitur -- it's an invented reason that makes no sense. A reprise of the facts from above:
The rules of baseball have, since 1973, required that every team in the American League fill a position known as 'the designated hitter'
Edgar Martinez was the best designated hitter in the history of the sport"
I think you obviously have to be more productive as a DH than as a gold glove shortstop.
I'm not sure how many people are disqualifying Martinez solely because of his position, but it's a clear handicap compared to players who made an impact in the field.
"There are 19 players who finished their careers with a batting average over .300, an on-base percentage over .400, and a slugging percentage over .500. Two of them played for the Rockies, pre-humidor. Two of them might never make the Hall of Fame because of scandal. Three of them will make the Hall of Fame unless they're caught up in a scandal. The rest are super-inner-circle-gold-star Hall-of-Famers. Jimmie Foxx. Mel Ott. Stan Musial. Those types."
Batting average and on-base percentage reflect a player's efficiency.
HOF entrants tend to amass stats over a long career.
I think that's the crux of the argument, rather than the pro-DH vs. anti-DH.
At first glance, I don't think Martinez's scoreboard stats are enough to put him in the HOF: .312, 309 HRs, 1,261 RBIs.
Runs scored: 1,219, which ranks him 160th all-time.
Willie Randolph had more runs scored.
160th on the list surrounds Martinez with good players, but not HOF types.
RBIs: 1,261, which ranks him 121st all-time. Some HOFers had fewer, lots of non-HOFers had more.
Harold Baines had 400 more RBIs.
Jeff Kent had 300 more RBIs and played the field.
But then I thought about it a little more. In terms of overall production, Martinez is a rare batter who gets a lot of walks and a lot or extra-base hits, who gets a lot of runs scored and a lot of RBIs.
Runs Created: 1,631, 58th all-time. (Problem is, I can't quite figure out the Bill Freakin' James definition of Runs Created.)
162-game averages: .312/.418/.515, 24 HRs, 41 doubles, 96 runs, 99 RBIs.
In any case, my observation is that Martinez probably belongs in the HOF, even though his production stats don't really make his induction a slam dunk.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The team, the time.
"But for those perhaps uncertain over whether to part with their millions, the owners have listed some less obvious perks that would come with a share of the Queens ball club.
¶ Access to Mr. Met, the team mascot, although the degree of access is not entirely spelled out. It definitely means you, as a part-owner, can schmooze with Mr. Met at Citi Field. It’s less clear whether you could get him to come to your child’s birthday party without a fee."
¶ Access to Mr. Met, the team mascot, although the degree of access is not entirely spelled out. It definitely means you, as a part-owner, can schmooze with Mr. Met at Citi Field. It’s less clear whether you could get him to come to your child’s birthday party without a fee."
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Mike Lupica doesn't like it when his predictions are proven incorrect.
"There is this idea that the government failed with the Barry Bonds case because Bonds in the end did no jail time."
Yes.
"And there is the idea that the government wasted money, because that is always such a big concern in the sports section."
There are lots of ideas.
With regards to Barry Bonds, lot of observers opined, yes, it was a waste of government resources from the start.
The general public opinion -- not a particularly important litmus test, necessarily, but certainly more valid than the vague "this idea" or "the idea" -- has starkly tilted towards this viewpoint.
Speaking for myself, I think the Constitutional violations are more worrisome than Barry Bonds's tainted HR records.
"But the reason that Bonds only took a fall on one felony — obstruction of justice — is because the guy who knew everything about what Bonds took and when he took it and how much of it he took refused — to the end — to testify."
Sure.
But you knew that when you were guaranteeing Bonds jail time.
It's hard to believe, but Mike Lupica likely knows less about U.S. jurisprudence than he does about U.S. baseball.
"Maybe you think that Bonds won something on Friday when he got probation and home confinement and 250 hours of community service.
But I don’t, whether the prosecution covered itself in glory or not."
Covered itself in glory?
Yuck.
"Put it another way, if you really think this was some kind of triumph for him:
Would you rather be him, or the great Henry Aaron, whose home run record Bonds broke?"
Avoiding jail time is, in fact, some kind of triumph.
He lost a long time ago in the Court of Public Opinion, but he was relatively victorious in the Court of Court.
As for who'd I'd rather be?
Sounds like a fun playground exercise for 6-year-olds.
Hmmmm ...
I'd rather be Bonds, because Bonds is younger than Aaron and, because of this, I think Bonds will live longer from this day forward and that's why I'd rather be Bonds instead of Aaron.
Yes.
"And there is the idea that the government wasted money, because that is always such a big concern in the sports section."
There are lots of ideas.
With regards to Barry Bonds, lot of observers opined, yes, it was a waste of government resources from the start.
The general public opinion -- not a particularly important litmus test, necessarily, but certainly more valid than the vague "this idea" or "the idea" -- has starkly tilted towards this viewpoint.
Speaking for myself, I think the Constitutional violations are more worrisome than Barry Bonds's tainted HR records.
"But the reason that Bonds only took a fall on one felony — obstruction of justice — is because the guy who knew everything about what Bonds took and when he took it and how much of it he took refused — to the end — to testify."
Sure.
But you knew that when you were guaranteeing Bonds jail time.
It's hard to believe, but Mike Lupica likely knows less about U.S. jurisprudence than he does about U.S. baseball.
"Maybe you think that Bonds won something on Friday when he got probation and home confinement and 250 hours of community service.
But I don’t, whether the prosecution covered itself in glory or not."
Covered itself in glory?
Yuck.
"Put it another way, if you really think this was some kind of triumph for him:
Would you rather be him, or the great Henry Aaron, whose home run record Bonds broke?"
Avoiding jail time is, in fact, some kind of triumph.
He lost a long time ago in the Court of Public Opinion, but he was relatively victorious in the Court of Court.
As for who'd I'd rather be?
Sounds like a fun playground exercise for 6-year-olds.
Hmmmm ...
I'd rather be Bonds, because Bonds is younger than Aaron and, because of this, I think Bonds will live longer from this day forward and that's why I'd rather be Bonds instead of Aaron.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Professional athletes make ridiculous amounts of money.
Albert Pujols for $24 million per year is clearly a bargain:
"Forget about what kind of shape Albert Pujols is going to be in at the back end of his ridiculous contract with the Angels.
I mean what kind of shape is he going to be in when he reaches A-Rod’s age?"
Good shape.
"Joe Buck, a St. Louis guy, is absolutely right."
There's a first time for everything.
"The real winners here are the Cardinals, who took their best shot at re-signing Pujols and then didn’t have to be the team giving Pujols a ridiculous 10-year contract.
You know who my early favorite is to win the NL Central in 2012?
The Cardinals, that’s who."
The Cardinals didn't win the NL Central last year ... or the year before that ...and, since the conclusion of last season, they have lost a HOF manager and the best player in baseball.
But, yeah, "early favorites to win the NL Central in 2012" sound like an indictment of the NL Central rather than an endorsement of the Cardinals.
"Forget about what kind of shape Albert Pujols is going to be in at the back end of his ridiculous contract with the Angels.
I mean what kind of shape is he going to be in when he reaches A-Rod’s age?"
Good shape.
"Joe Buck, a St. Louis guy, is absolutely right."
There's a first time for everything.
"The real winners here are the Cardinals, who took their best shot at re-signing Pujols and then didn’t have to be the team giving Pujols a ridiculous 10-year contract.
You know who my early favorite is to win the NL Central in 2012?
The Cardinals, that’s who."
The Cardinals didn't win the NL Central last year ... or the year before that ...and, since the conclusion of last season, they have lost a HOF manager and the best player in baseball.
But, yeah, "early favorites to win the NL Central in 2012" sound like an indictment of the NL Central rather than an endorsement of the Cardinals.
Name five players from the 1962 Mets.
"Even if you weren’t alive in 1962, you know the story of the original Mets. They lost 120 games, which set a modern day record for futility that stands to this day. They were truly awful. Yet around here, they remain one of the most beloved teams of all time."
I am guessing there was some degree of excitement for fans of the displaced Giants and Dodgers.
"The original Mets were adored because they were a novelty, and because New York had lost its two National League franchises, the Dodgers and Giants, to California. It’s also safe to say they were adored by so many because they weren’t the Yankees."
So the novelty wore off long ago.
"And why do we bring this up today? Because it’s time for Mets fans to once again bask in the glow of their own inferiority. Seriously. This is the way it oughta be."
I'm going to guess that the fans of 1962 Mets weren't having nearly so much fun as this revisionist history suggests.
Casey Stengel and Choo Choo Coleman saying funny things to the press. You guys should be a stand up act.
"So that brings us into the present, and the opportunity for the Mets to basically start all over again. Cry if you want about losing Jose Reyes to the Miami Marlins. Scream at the top of your lungs about the Wilpon family and the team’s financial state. Lose sleep over what looks like a two-, three-, maybe four-year rebuilding project that has just gotten started.
Or bask in it."
Well, if you're a fan of a team, then you're a fan of a team. There are some benefits to uncrowded stadiums with empty upper decks. uncrowded parking lots, uncrowded beer lines, and uncrowded bathrooms. Satisfaction can be defined as the degree to which expectations are met and sometimes it can ultimately make one happier to have low expectations.
But the 1962 Mets were probably not particularly beloved then and definitely not particularly beloved now. It's revisionist history and myth-making.
The fundamentals of sports enjoyment don't change too much: Winning is good, losing is bad.
I am guessing there was some degree of excitement for fans of the displaced Giants and Dodgers.
"The original Mets were adored because they were a novelty, and because New York had lost its two National League franchises, the Dodgers and Giants, to California. It’s also safe to say they were adored by so many because they weren’t the Yankees."
So the novelty wore off long ago.
"And why do we bring this up today? Because it’s time for Mets fans to once again bask in the glow of their own inferiority. Seriously. This is the way it oughta be."
I'm going to guess that the fans of 1962 Mets weren't having nearly so much fun as this revisionist history suggests.
Casey Stengel and Choo Choo Coleman saying funny things to the press. You guys should be a stand up act.
"So that brings us into the present, and the opportunity for the Mets to basically start all over again. Cry if you want about losing Jose Reyes to the Miami Marlins. Scream at the top of your lungs about the Wilpon family and the team’s financial state. Lose sleep over what looks like a two-, three-, maybe four-year rebuilding project that has just gotten started.
Or bask in it."
Well, if you're a fan of a team, then you're a fan of a team. There are some benefits to uncrowded stadiums with empty upper decks. uncrowded parking lots, uncrowded beer lines, and uncrowded bathrooms. Satisfaction can be defined as the degree to which expectations are met and sometimes it can ultimately make one happier to have low expectations.
But the 1962 Mets were probably not particularly beloved then and definitely not particularly beloved now. It's revisionist history and myth-making.
The fundamentals of sports enjoyment don't change too much: Winning is good, losing is bad.
Friday, December 09, 2011
There's nothing more expensive than cheap labor.
"However, from a pure baseball standpoint, great as Pujols has been through the first 11 years of his career, there's no good reason to give a 10-year contract to a player who will turn 32 next month."
I can think of a few good reasons:
1) Pujols is now on your team.
2) Your team will win more baseball games.
3) Your team will bring in more revenue and increase its value.
4) You will acquire return on your investment.
I can think of a few good reasons:
1) Pujols is now on your team.
2) Your team will win more baseball games.
3) Your team will bring in more revenue and increase its value.
4) You will acquire return on your investment.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
The Yankees will not trade Jesus Montero.
He's a young, inexpensive player who they could have traded (with others) for Cliff Lee (I think).
Now that the investment is about to pay off, they're not going to trade him for Gio Gonzalez.
Now that the investment is about to pay off, they're not going to trade him for Gio Gonzalez.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Lupica's new favorite manager.
Ben Cherington will probably be Lupica's new favorite GM.
Though it's also possible Lupica will just follow Theo to Chicago.
Though it's also possible Lupica will just follow Theo to Chicago.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Mushnick vs. Francesa
"What a shame that Ryan Braun, last week named the National League MVP, didn’t take a few seconds to give credit where credit is deserved.
Braun, after all, became a lock to win the award even before the season began, when our incomparable all-seeing and all-knowing evaluator of human athleticism and horse flesh, Mike Francesa, dismissed Braun as nothing special, not even among the majors’ top two-way outfielders.
Francesa even ridiculed and stepped on a caller who asked him how he could not include Braun on his list of the best outfielders in the majors."
Hilarious that Mushnick remembers this conversation and calls out Francesa.
More ridiculous that I remember this conversation on Francesa's radio show.
It's quite true that Francesa dismissed Braun's credentials. But the topic was whether or not MLB had any OF superstars. Where are the Willies, Mickeys, and Dukes?
So Francesa wasn't so much dismissing Braun vis a vis Braun's peers, he was dismissing Braun vis a vis other OF superstars in MLB history.
I'm hardly defending Francesa -- this is the sports radio host who doesn't know who Al Albuquerque is -- and Francesa probably has no idea how good Ryan Braun is. But Sherman is slightly misrepresenting the conversation.
"There is no one who speaks more authoritatively and more imperiously — and gets more colossally wrong — than Francesa. He can turn a three-TD road ’dog into a blowout winner simply by stating that the visitors shouldn’t even bother to get off the bus. Good thing he didn’t take the U.S. in the Cuban Missile Crisis."
Cuban Missile Crisis ???
Here's the thing: Every person who picks NFL games is wrong half the time and they always have a short memory.
For inexplicable reasons, they're paid for their opinions.
For even less explicable reasons, lots of people listen.
So, as long as this occurs, Mushnick will always have a lot of fodder for his Scorecard of Life.
Braun, after all, became a lock to win the award even before the season began, when our incomparable all-seeing and all-knowing evaluator of human athleticism and horse flesh, Mike Francesa, dismissed Braun as nothing special, not even among the majors’ top two-way outfielders.
Francesa even ridiculed and stepped on a caller who asked him how he could not include Braun on his list of the best outfielders in the majors."
Hilarious that Mushnick remembers this conversation and calls out Francesa.
More ridiculous that I remember this conversation on Francesa's radio show.
It's quite true that Francesa dismissed Braun's credentials. But the topic was whether or not MLB had any OF superstars. Where are the Willies, Mickeys, and Dukes?
So Francesa wasn't so much dismissing Braun vis a vis Braun's peers, he was dismissing Braun vis a vis other OF superstars in MLB history.
I'm hardly defending Francesa -- this is the sports radio host who doesn't know who Al Albuquerque is -- and Francesa probably has no idea how good Ryan Braun is. But Sherman is slightly misrepresenting the conversation.
"There is no one who speaks more authoritatively and more imperiously — and gets more colossally wrong — than Francesa. He can turn a three-TD road ’dog into a blowout winner simply by stating that the visitors shouldn’t even bother to get off the bus. Good thing he didn’t take the U.S. in the Cuban Missile Crisis."
Cuban Missile Crisis ???
Here's the thing: Every person who picks NFL games is wrong half the time and they always have a short memory.
For inexplicable reasons, they're paid for their opinions.
For even less explicable reasons, lots of people listen.
So, as long as this occurs, Mushnick will always have a lot of fodder for his Scorecard of Life.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
2011 NL MVP.
| Them | Us | ||
| Ryan Braun | 388 | Matt Kemp | 24 |
| Matt Kemp | 332 | Ryan Braun | 21 |
| Prince Fielder | 229 | Prince Fielder | 10 |
| Justin Upton | 214 | Justin Upton | 10 |
| Albert Pujols | 166 | Albert Pujols | 4 |
| Joey Votto | 135 | Lane Berkman | 3 |
| Lance Berkman | 118 | Joey Votto | 2 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | 69 | ||
| Roy Halladay | 52 | ||
| Ryan Howard | 39 | ||
| Jose Reyes | 31 | ||
| Clayton Kershaw | 29 | ||
| Shane Victorino | 18 | ||
| Ian Kennedy | 16 | ||
| Cliff Lee | 12 | ||
| Hunter Pence | 10 | ||
| Pablo Sandoval | 7 | ||
| John Axford | 7 | ||
| Michael Morse | 5 | ||
| Carlos Beltran | 3 | ||
| Miguel Montero | 2 | ||
| Yadier Molina | 2 | ||
| Starlin Castro | 1 | ||
| Craig Kimbrel | 1 | ||
| Carlos Ruiz | 1 | ||
| Mike Stanton | 1 | ||
Monday, November 21, 2011
2011 AL MVP.
| Them | Us | ||
| Justin Verlander | 280 | Curtis Granderson | 25 |
| Jacoby Ellsbury | 242 | Miguel Cabrera | 18 |
| Jose Bautista | 231 | Jose Bautista | 14 |
| Curtis Granderson | 215 | Justin Verlander | 11 |
| Miguel Cabrera | 193 | Robinson Cano | 9 |
| Robinson Cano | 112 | Jacoby Ellsbury | 7 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 105 | ||
| Michael Young | 96 | ||
| Dustin Pedroia | 48 | ||
| Evan Longoria | 27 | ||
| Ian Kinsler | 25 | ||
| Alex Avila | 13 | ||
| Paul Konerko | 11 | ||
| CC Sabathia | 10 | ||
| Adrian Beltre | 9 | ||
| Ben Zobrist | 7 | ||
| Victor Martinez | 7 | ||
| James Shields | 7 | ||
| Mark Teixeira | 5 | ||
| Asdrubal Cabrera | 4 | ||
| Alex Gordon | 3 | ||
| Josh Hamilton | 1 | ||
| David Robertson | 1 | ||
Thursday, November 17, 2011
2011 NL Cy Young.
Baseball Writers' Association of America:
Felz & His Friends:
| Name | Points |
| Clayton Kershaw | 207 |
| Roy Halladay | 133 |
| Cliff Lee | 90 |
| Ian Kennedy | 76 |
| Cole Hamels | 17 |
| Tim Lincecum | 7 |
| Yovani Gallardo | 5 |
| Matt Cain | 3 |
| John Axford | 2 |
| Craig Kimbrel | 2 |
| Madison Bumgarner | 1 |
| Ryan Vogelsong | 1 |
Felz & His Friends:
| Name | Points |
| Clayton Kershaw | 30 |
| Roy Halladay | 23 |
| Ian Kennedy | 16 |
| Cliff Lee | 11 |
| Yovani Gollardo | 2 |
| John Axford | 1 |
| Craig Kimbrel | 1 |
| David Robertson | 1 |
| C.J. Wilson | 1 |
A day late.
"Injuries forced Alex Rodriguez to enter the postseason without enough time to regain his typical comfort level at the plate, prompting Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to wonder Tuesday if Eric Chavez could have been the better choice at third base.
'Chavy might have been a better option there at the end,' Cashman said"
Not a very brave position to take after the fact.
Chavez at third couldn't have hurt. But ARod probably would have been the DH. Posada and Montero played well as DH. So the Yankees would have been hurt by ARod's bat, anyway.
'Chavy might have been a better option there at the end,' Cashman said"
Not a very brave position to take after the fact.
Chavez at third couldn't have hurt. But ARod probably would have been the DH. Posada and Montero played well as DH. So the Yankees would have been hurt by ARod's bat, anyway.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
2011 AL Cy Young.
Baseball Writers' Association of America:
Felz & His Friends:
| Name | Points |
| Justin Verlander | 196 |
| Jered Weaver | 97 |
| James Shields | 66 |
| CC Sabathia | 63 |
| Jose Valverde | 28 |
| C.J. Wilson | 9 |
| Dan Haren | 7 |
| Mariano Rivera | 4 |
| Josh Beckett | 3 |
| Ricky Romero | 2 |
| David Robertson | 1 |
Felz & His Friends:
| Name | Points |
| Justin Verlander | 36 |
| Jered Weaver | 19 |
| CC Sabathia | 16 |
| Josh Beckett | 2 |
| Felix Hernandez | 2 |
| Mariano Rivera | 2 |
| James Shields | 2 |
| David Robertson | 1 |
| C.J. Wilson | 1 |
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
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